OKTAGON 78: Battle for Germany delivers explosive championship action at the legendary Lanxess Arena in Cologne. The event features the most anticipated vacant bantamweight title war between controversial Brazilian Igor “Hannibal” Severino and former PFL Europe champion Khurshed “Killer” Kakhorov.
German superstar Christian Eckerlin faces Croatian legend Ivica “Terror” Trušček in an epic main event clash, while the card showcases Germany’s most elite MMA warriors. Adding to the mayhem, rising knockout artist Cihad Akipa battles veteran striker Erhan Kartal in what promises to be a brutal middleweight war.
With over 20,000 screaming fans creating an electric German atmosphere, this event showcases the absolute pinnacle of European MMA talent in their most dangerous encounters.
OKTAGON 78: Battle for Germany takes place on Saturday, October 18, 2025 at 12:00 PM ET at the legendary Lanxess Arena in Cologne, Germany. The event will be broadcast as a Pay Per View with over 20,000 fans expected to attend.
The main event features Christian Eckerlin vs. Ivica “Terror” Trušček in a welterweight bout. Eckerlin is Germany’s “King of Germany” champion who previously headlined before 59,000 fans, while Trušček is a Croatian legend with 83 professional fights – making this one of the biggest fights in both fighters’ careers.
Yes! Igor “The Hannibal” Severino vs. Khurshed “Killer” Kakhorov will fight for the vacant OKTAGON Bantamweight Championship in a 5-round title bout. Severino is the controversial former UFC fighter who was released after a biting incident, while Kakhorov is the former PFL Europe tournament champion.
OKTAGON 78 will be available as a Pay Per View event. Fans can watch through OKTAGON TV, DAZN (in select regions), or check the official OKTAGON MMA website for streaming options in your country. The event starts at 12:00 PM ET / 6:00 PM CET.
Frederic Vosgroene (4-0) is an undefeated German sensation known for his unique grappling style and viral knockouts. Cihad Akipa vs. Erhan Kartal promises fireworks in the middleweight division, while former world boxing champion Deniz Ilbay continues his MMA transition.
This is OKTAGON’s first major return to Cologne in almost 2 years, featuring the biggest collection of German MMA talent on one card. With home crowd advantage, German fighters like Eckerlin, Akipa, Kartal, and Vosgroene will have massive support from over 20,000 passionate fans at the Lanxess Arena.
Absolutely! Igor Severino’s redemption story is the biggest storyline – he was fired from UFC after biting his opponent and has reinvented himself as “The Hannibal.” Meanwhile, this fight represents Trušček’s biggest payday in his legendary 20+ year career, making it his most significant bout ever at age 37.
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